Activists demand strict law to curb corporal punishment

Jaipur: Human rights activists here have demanded that the Rajasthan government bring stringent laws to protect students from corporal punishment in the wake of the death of a nine-year-old girl due to complications from an injury sustained in such an incident at a private school.

Activists of the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) have written an open letter to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot demanding that the government introduce an Act to deal with such issues.

Kavita Srivastava, PUCL General Secretary, alleged in the letter that no stern action was taken by the police against the school owner in the case of Pia Chaudhary, who was beaten by her class teacher in Jhunjhunu two years back for not completing her homework and sustained severe injury in one of her eyes.

The girl, whose vision in both eyes was later affected, died of cancer on November 17 after developing Neuroblastoma, a malignant tumor related to the nerve tissues.

P K Sharma, Radhakant Saxena, Nishat Hussain are the other activists who have raised the demand.